Friday Night Lights

After the excitement that was Wednesday's State Of Origin
clash, there is no better dessert than the annual Suncorp Stadium double
header. It's hard to argue against the fact that the Brisbane venue is the best
Rugby League stadium in Australia. So to be able to view two games in
succession there on a Friday night is always great entertainment.

It's especially so when it throws up two contrasting
clashes: the first is a battle of two teams near the top of the table; the
second is one fought by teams that are starting to slide further down it.

MANLY VS BRISBANE

These two teams always lift against each other. Perhaps it's
because Manly is the first team that the Broncos played when they joined the
competition in 1988, or the fact that they were the two dominant sides of the
1990's. All past hypotheticals aside, the Broncos and the Sea Eagles will be an
interesting clash for many reasons.

The first is that both these sides have had successful
starts to the year on the back of their defence. Manly's is aggressive and
dominating; Brisbane's places more emphasis on composure and communication.
Both have shown a penchant for getting on top and winning games on the back of
their respective defences and there is a good chance that this will decide who
comes out on top in this match.

Don't be fooled into thinking that it's Manly's game to lose
because Broncos coach Anthony Griffin plans to rest some of his representative
players. They proved against the Melbourne Storm after the test match a few
weeks ago that they are able to hold their own without players like Darren
Lockyer and Sam Thaiday.

The loss of Justin Hodges to a hamstring injury will be a
much more influential factor on the outcome than people may realise. It is no
coincidence that the Broncos' fortunes over the first part of the season mirrored
their centre's return to form after snapping his Achilles tendon last year. It
is also no coincidence that his team lost its way once he went down injured
against the Panthers two weeks ago.

The kamikaze attitude of Manly five-eighth Kieran Foran is
just as influential on his team's performances as Hodges' dummy-half runs and
formidable face palms are for the Broncos. This is shaping up to be one bruiser
of a contest.

BULLDOGS VS TITANS

The Canterbury Bulldogs started the season well with three
wins on the trot, but have now started to lose their way. In their travels down
the ladder they have found the Gold Coast Titans, who have been disappointing
from the get-go.

On paper both of these teams should be winning on a regular
basis. The fact that they're not suggests that they're being let down by their
attitude and injuries in key positions.

The most promising thing for both teams is that come Friday
night, one of them will be back in the winner's circle. That can mean a lot.
You just need to examine how the Canberra Raiders have fared in the last two
weeks to see that just like losing, winning can be infectious.

Aiden Tolman's knee injury has depleted the Bulldogs'
forward stocks, forcing Andrew Ryan to step into the vacant prop forward
position. On the other coin, the Titans will be missing Anthony Laffranchi and
Nathan Friend.

Friend's loss is huge for the Titans, and while Canterbury
rake Michael Ennis is not a certainty to back up after Origin, his presence
around the ruck should tip the balance in his team's favour.